The short answer
Avengers Doomsday opens only in theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026, and tickets are on sale now. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain Doctor Doom, while Joe and Anthony Russo direct. The sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, follows on December 17, 2027.
- Release date: December 18, 2026, theaters only (Marvel and Disney)
- Runtime: about 2 hours 45 minutes, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter; Marvel has not confirmed a final cut
- Rating: not yet rated, according to Disney’s official film page
- IMAX: no US IMAX screens at launch; Disney’s Infinity Vision premium screens instead
- Homework: Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps matter most
Dec 18, 2026
US theatrical release
30
Actors on Marvel’s official cast list
165 min
Reported runtime
Dec 17, 2027
Avengers: Secret Wars
In this article
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers team-up film and the 39th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the shared film and TV universe Marvel Studios has built since Iron Man in 2008. Marvel’s official synopsis says it follows “beloved heroes from three distinct universes” on a collision course with an existential threat. In practice, that means the main MCU heroes, the Fantastic Four and Fox-era X-Men characters share the screen for the first time.
Because the film is two months away, plenty of rumors are circulating. So this guide sticks to what Marvel, Disney and major trade outlets have actually confirmed: the Avengers Doomsday release date, the official cast, trailers, tickets, runtime, where it sits in the MCU timeline and exactly what to watch before you go. Everything below was checked on October 21, 2026.
Avengers Doomsday Release Date: When Does It Come Out?
Avengers Doomsday comes out in US theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026. Both Marvel’s official film page and Disney’s movie page list that date, and Disney says the film “releases exclusively in theaters.” In other words, there is no same-day Disney+ premiere.
Theaters often add early evening shows the night before a big opening. However, Disney has not published an official preview schedule, so check your local listings for Thursday, December 17, showtimes. Release dates outside the US can differ by a day or two, so international readers should check local cinema chains.
Why the Avengers Doomsday date moved to December
Marvel originally scheduled the film for May 2026 and later moved it to December 18, 2026, as TheWrap noted in its coverage of the release strategy. As a result, the Avengers film now opens on the same day as Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part Three, which has a deal for IMAX screens. That clash explains the IMAX situation covered in the tickets section below.
When does Avengers: Secret Wars come out?
Avengers: Secret Wars is dated for December 17, 2027, on Marvel’s official site. It is the direct follow-up to Doomsday and is expected to close out the Multiverse Saga, so the gap between the two Avengers films is almost exactly one year.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| First teaser (in theaters) | December 2025 | Released |
| Premium-format tickets on sale | July 20, 2026 | Done |
| Special look at D23 | August 14, 2026 | Released |
| Avengers: Endgame re-release with sneak peek | September 25, 2026 | Done |
| Avengers: Doomsday in theaters | December 18, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Avengers: Secret Wars in theaters | December 17, 2027 | Scheduled |
Who Is in the Cast of Avengers: Doomsday?
Marvel’s official page lists 30 actors, led by Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Pedro Pascal. Most notably, Downey, who played Tony Stark for over a decade, now plays Victor von Doom, a role Marvel revealed at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024. Meanwhile, Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers, according to the “Steve Rogers Will Return” poster on Marvel’s site.
The table groups the official Avengers Doomsday cast by team. Character names come from each actor’s earlier Marvel roles; Marvel itself has listed only the actors’ names for most of them.
| Group | Actor | Known role |
|---|---|---|
| Villain | Robert Downey Jr. | Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom |
| Avengers and allies | Chris Evans | Steve Rogers |
| Avengers and allies | Chris Hemsworth | Thor |
| Avengers and allies | Anthony Mackie | Sam Wilson / Captain America |
| Avengers and allies | Paul Rudd | Scott Lang / Ant-Man |
| Avengers and allies | Kathryn Newton | Cassie Lang |
| Avengers and allies | Danny Ramirez | Joaquin Torres / Falcon |
| Avengers and allies | Simu Liu | Shang-Chi |
| Avengers and allies | Tom Hiddleston | Loki |
| Wakanda and Talokan | Letitia Wright | Shuri / Black Panther |
| Wakanda and Talokan | Winston Duke | M’Baku |
| Wakanda and Talokan | Tenoch Huerta Mejía | Namor |
| Wakanda and Talokan | Mabel Cadena | Namora |
| Thunderbolts | Florence Pugh | Yelena Belova |
| Thunderbolts | Sebastian Stan | Bucky Barnes |
| Thunderbolts | David Harbour | Red Guardian |
| Thunderbolts | Wyatt Russell | John Walker / U.S. Agent |
| Thunderbolts | Hannah John-Kamen | Ghost |
| Thunderbolts | Lewis Pullman | Bob Reynolds / Sentry |
| Fantastic Four | Pedro Pascal | Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic |
| Fantastic Four | Vanessa Kirby | Sue Storm / Invisible Woman |
| Fantastic Four | Joseph Quinn | Johnny Storm / Human Torch |
| Fantastic Four | Ebon Moss-Bachrach | Ben Grimm / The Thing |
| X-Men | Patrick Stewart | Charles Xavier / Professor X |
| X-Men | Ian McKellen | Magneto |
| X-Men | James Marsden | Cyclops |
| X-Men | Rebecca Romijn | Mystique |
| X-Men | Alan Cumming | Nightcrawler |
| X-Men | Kelsey Grammer | Beast |
| X-Men | Channing Tatum | Gambit |
Is Spider-Man in Avengers: Doomsday?
Tom Holland is not on Marvel’s official cast list, so Spider-Man’s appearance is unconfirmed. Likewise, Mark Ruffalo, Benedict Cumberbatch and other big names fans expect are absent from the official list. Treat any claim otherwise as a rumor until Marvel says so.
Who directed it?
Joe and Anthony Russo direct, which is significant because they also made Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Stephen McFeely wrote the screenplay, and Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Jonathan Schwartz produced it, per Disney.
What Is Avengers: Doomsday About?
Officially, the plot is one sentence long: heroes from three distinct universes are set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat. Marvel has not released a longer synopsis, so anything more detailed online is speculation or leaked material.
Still, the marketing gives clear hints. For example, Marvel’s posters announce that the Wakandans, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Thor and Steve Rogers “will return.” In addition, the August “special look” focused on Doctor Doom himself. Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes, told Decider the film is “probably heartbreaking,” Deadline reported on October 7, though he added he had not seen the finished cut.
Watch out. Plot “leaks” spread fast before every Avengers film, and many turn out to be fake. If you want to go in fresh, mute keywords such as “Doomsday spoilers” and “Doomsday leaks” on social media until you have seen it.
Is There an Avengers Doomsday Trailer?
Yes, there is an official trailer, plus a special look and several short teasers. The first teasers played in theaters in December 2025, and the full official trailer arrived online on July 20, 2026, the same day premium tickets went on sale, according to Good Morning America.
Next, Marvel debuted a “special look” at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 14, 2026. Disney’s page currently hosts the Official Trailer (2:25), the Special Look (2:09), a “Tickets on Sale” spot and a “Silence Your Phones” clip. Marvel has not announced a date for a final trailer, so expect one closer to release if it follows past Avengers campaigns.
When Do Tickets Go On Sale, and Is It in IMAX?
Avengers Doomsday tickets are on sale now at all US theaters showing the film. Sales opened on July 20, 2026, for premium Infinity Vision screens, roughly five months before release, and then expanded to every theater in August, as The Hollywood Reporter and GMA reported. Marvel’s film page also links to tickets.
What is Infinity Vision?
Infinity Vision is a Disney certification for existing premium screens, not a new projection format. According to TheWrap, qualifying auditoriums need a screen at least 45 feet wide, 7.1 surround sound and a minimum brightness standard. Participating formats include Dolby Cinema at AMC, Cinemark XD, ScreenX, 4DX and D-Box seats.
Why is there no IMAX?
IMAX screens are committed to Dune: Part Three, which opens the same day. The Motion Picture Association’s The Credits reported that Warner Bros. secured IMAX for three weeks, so Doomsday is unlikely to reach US IMAX screens before early January 2027, if at all.
Pro tip. Opening-weekend premium seats sell out first. If you only care about a good seat rather than a giant screen, a standard showing on the Sunday or Monday after release usually has far better availability. Also, check whether your theater chain’s loyalty program waives online booking fees.
How Long Is Avengers: Doomsday, and What Is It Rated?
The reported runtime is 165 minutes, or 2 hours 45 minutes. The Hollywood Reporter first published that figure in July alongside the ticket plan, and Marvel has not called it final. Even so, a runtime tied to ticketed showtimes rarely shifts much.
That length places it between the two previous Russo Avengers films. For comparison, the MPA’s The Credits notes Infinity War runs 149 minutes and Endgame 181 minutes. As for the rating, Disney’s page says “Not Yet Rated.” Every earlier Avengers film was rated PG-13, but the official Avengers Doomsday rating has not been announced, so check before taking younger kids.
| Film | Year | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | 149 minutes |
| Avengers: Doomsday (reported) | 2026 | 165 minutes |
| Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | 181 minutes |
Where Does It Fit in the MCU Timeline?
Avengers: Doomsday is a Phase Six film, the second-to-last Avengers chapter of the Multiverse Saga, the storyline Marvel began in 2021. It arrives after Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opened in theaters on July 31, 2026, and before Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027.
Story-wise, two recent films set up the most threads. First, Thunderbolts* (2025) introduced the antihero team that ends that film branded as the “New Avengers.” Second, The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) introduced Marvel’s First Family in their own retro-futuristic universe, which is why they need to cross over. Meanwhile, the X-Men characters come from the Fox films, so a trip through the multiverse is how they join the story.
What to Watch Before Avengers Doomsday
Marvel’s official answer is a 15-title “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday” collection on Disney+. The official watch guide, published October 5, 2026, runs from the first X-Men film (2000) to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with Loki’s two seasons listed as one title.
The short list if you only have a weekend
- Avengers: Endgame: the emotional reset point for Thor, Steve Rogers and the original team.
- Loki (Seasons 1 and 2): explains the multiverse rules and the Time Variance Authority.
- Thunderbolts*: sets up Yelena, Bucky, Sentry and the “New Avengers.”
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps: introduces Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben, plus their separate universe.
The full official Avengers Doomsday watch list
| # | Title | Why it matters for Doomsday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | X-Men (2000) | Introduces Professor X, Magneto, Cyclops and Mystique |
| 2 | X2: X-Men United (2003) | Adds Nightcrawler; deepens the Xavier and Magneto rivalry |
| 3 | Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) | Steve Rogers’ origin |
| 4 | The Avengers (2012) | The original team, and Loki as villain |
| 5 | Avengers: Infinity War (2018) | The Russos’ first Avengers film |
| 6 | Avengers: Endgame (2019) | Where the original heroes left off |
| 7 | Loki, Season 1 | The multiverse opens up |
| 8 | Loki, Season 2 | Loki’s choice to protect the timeline |
| 9 | Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) | Shang-Chi’s origin |
| 10 | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) | Multiverse consequences |
| 11 | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) | Shuri, M’Baku, Namor and Talokan |
| 12 | Captain America: Brave New World (2025) | Sam Wilson as Captain America |
| 13 | Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | Fox-era characters enter the MCU |
| 14 | Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) | Alternate realities and incursions |
| 15 | Thunderbolts* (2025) | The “New Avengers” lineup |
| 16 | The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) | Marvel’s First Family |
Notably, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is not on Marvel’s list. Because it opened in theaters only in July, check Disney+ or digital stores for its home release before you plan a marathon. If you want lighter viewing for the holidays around your theater trip, our best Christmas movies guide lists where each classic streams.
Our verdict
Avengers Doomsday is the biggest movie of the holiday season, and the key facts are locked: December 18, 2026, theaters only, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom and the Russo brothers back in the director’s chair. Therefore, if you want a premium seat for opening weekend, book now through an Infinity Vision theater, since IMAX is off the table in the US at launch.
For homework, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are the must-watches; Endgame and Loki are next. Finally, ignore unconfirmed cast and plot rumors until Marvel speaks; Secret Wars on December 17, 2027, is where the full story ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Avengers Doomsday come out?
Avengers Doomsday comes out in US theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026, according to Marvel and Disney. It is a theaters-only release, so it will not premiere on Disney+ the same day. Some theaters may add early shows on Thursday, December 17, but Disney has not published an official preview schedule, so check your local listings for exact showtimes.
Who is in the Avengers Doomsday cast?
Marvel’s official cast list names 30 actors. Robert Downey Jr. plays Doctor Doom, joined by Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan and Letitia Wright. X-Men veterans Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer also return, along with Channing Tatum as Gambit.
How long is Avengers Doomsday?
Avengers Doomsday runs about 165 minutes, or 2 hours 45 minutes, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which published the figure when tickets went on sale in July 2026. Marvel has not called that cut final. If it holds, the film is longer than Avengers: Infinity War at 149 minutes but shorter than Avengers: Endgame at 181 minutes.
Is Avengers Doomsday in IMAX?
Not in the US at launch. Dune: Part Three opens the same day, and Warner Bros. secured IMAX screens for three weeks. Instead, Disney created Infinity Vision, a certification for premium screens such as Dolby Cinema at AMC, Cinemark XD, ScreenX, 4DX and D-Box. Tickets for those premium showings went on sale first, on July 20, 2026.
What should I watch before Avengers Doomsday?
Marvel’s official Disney+ watch guide lists 15 titles, from X-Men (2000) through The Fantastic Four: First Steps. If you are short on time, focus on Avengers: Endgame, both seasons of Loki, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Those four cover the original heroes, the multiverse rules, the New Avengers lineup and Marvel’s First Family.
Is Avengers Doomsday the last Avengers movie?
No. Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17, 2027, according to Marvel’s official site, and it directly continues the story that Doomsday sets up. Together the two films close out the Multiverse Saga. Marvel has not announced any Avengers films beyond Secret Wars, so any claims about later team-up movies are speculation for now.
